Tips for researchers who want to strengthen their writing practice
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Most researchers have a deep love for writing and find it very enjoyable when they have the time to fully inhabit “the writer” part of their identity. But the writer is often neglected, in competition with the “professor” and “administrator.”
As with any practice, there are those for whom discipline is natural and they write for a set amount of time every day. But many more spend more time thinking about writing than writing and rely on the stress of the deadline crunch to get it done. For most of us, there is a critical inner narrative that constantly whispers “you are not doing enough and it is not good enough.” This can make the time researchers spend writing unpleasant because it is steeped in guilt and anxiety.
Being together, with others who have the same appreciation of writing, and face the same challenges, is supportive and holds us accountable. Having a structure provides security and allows retreatants to find that inner writer and reconnect.
I recently facilitated writing retreats for faculty at the Turun yliopisto - University of Turku and Georgia Tech School of Public Policy. I used a new format for the retreats, based on what I have learned facilitating Book Sprints as well as my personal experiences attending silent meditation retreats. It borrows from some of Rowena Murray's (2009) research on “structured writing retreats.”
Below are a list of key elements of the writing retreats that worked really well. These can be used by anyone looking to kickstart their writing practice in daily life.
Tips to strengthen your writing practice
Before starting any writing project, spend some time figuring out who the reader is that you are writing for. What are their needs? How might you fulfill them? Each time you go back to the writing, revisit this.
Allocate blocks of time for concentrated work and assign tasks to fit the time you have. Often we work with very vague goals like “finish the paper” and therefore we never feel a sense of achievement for the work we put in. If we break it down, it's much easier to celebrate the achievements along the way.
Name the naysayer. Everyone has someone sitting on their shoulder ready to derail their writing. It might be the voice that says that what you really need to do right now is reorganize your folder structure or the one that has you going back over each line you write, and rewriting it. It can be very helpful to pay attention to this habit of mind and get to know when it shows up, perhaps writing down what it says or turning it into a caricature with a simple sketch.
Work together where possible. If you have a friend or colleague who faces similar challenges: carve out some time, structure it, and meet and work together. Start your session by discussing your goals and end your session by reviewing what you achieved.
Incorporating these tips into writing, whether at home, the office, or on retreat, can help researchers maintain a writing practice that is enjoyable and productive.
Are you a researcher looking to write in a supportive environment with your collaborators? Contact Faith to find out about a facilitated writing retreat.
Faith Bosworth facilitates writing retreats for researchers to advance on their papers and books, developing their ideas and communication through exchange and review with their peers. She is also a certified mindfulness and meditation teacher. Learn more about Faith.